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Re: [OM] The E-M5 has arrived

Subject: Re: [OM] The E-M5 has arrived
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:37:53 -0500
Thanks.  I'll look these over when I get to the mysets stage... if I get 
that far. :-)

Chuck Norcutt


On 1/19/2013 3:10 PM, Martin Walters wrote:
> Chuck:
> I found the menus intimidating, when I started. The OM 4T doesn't have
> quite so many!!!
>
> I downloaded the manual and used the following to help. The DPR review
> is useful because it list all the menu options (#9 and #10, IIRC).
>
> http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5
> http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9115179666/user-guide-getting-the-most-out-of-the-olympus-e-m5
>
> Part of the customization confusion lifted when I realized that a number
> of the settings apply only to jpgs. Not needed if you shoot RAW or RAW+jpg.
>
> Perhaps the most difficult to grasp was how the mysets do and don't work
> (and are saved).
>
> If it's useful, here's what I have mine set at (as I remember). It's
> quite simple, as I use it in aperture priority.
>
> MYSet 1 = normal AF use (Aperture Priority)
> ·     Front dial=Aperture (Front dial=Shutter)
> ·     Rear dial= exposure compensation (rear dial=exposure compensation)
> ·     Fn 1 = AF Home
> ·     Fn 2 = Magnify
> ·     REC = ISO
> ·     set AF region to smallest square in the centre
>
> ·     Shooting Menu 1:
> o     Picture Mode = Natural
> o     Still Picture - LF+RAW
> o     Image Aspect = 4:3
> o     Digital teleconverter = OFF
>
> ·     Shooting Menu 2:
> o     drive = single shot
> o     Image stabiliser = IS1
>
> ·     AF/MF:
> o     AF Mode = S-AF
> o     Full-time AF = OFF
> o     AEL/AFL = S1/C2/M3
> o     MF Assist = ON
> o     AF Illuminator = ON
>
> ·     Release:
> o     Halfway Rls With IS = ON
>
> ·     Disp:
> o     LV Close Up Mode = mode 2
> o     LV Boost=OFF (so it shows effect of compensation)
> o     Info Settings= SCP and Live Control =ON
> o     Beep = OFF
>
> ·     Exp/ISO:
> o     ESP
> o     ISO-Auto Set upper limit = 6400
> o     ISO Auto = ALL ON
> o     Live Bulb=0.5sec
> o     Live Time = OFF
>
> ·     Quality/Color/WB:
> o     Noise Reduction = Auto
> o     Noise Filter = LOW
> o     WB=Auto
> o     Shading Comp=ON
> o     Flash+WB=FLASH/WB
>
> ·     Record/Erase
> o     Priority Set=Yes
>
>
> On 19/01/2013 1:14 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>> The E-M5 has arrived but I am nowhere near figuring out how to use it.
>>
>> I fully expected the battery to need charging first but was surprised to
>> see that it indicated near full charge... or so I thought.  I started
>> with some basic setup including setting date and time.  After about an
>> hour of fiddling with things the battery symbol turned red indicating
>> need for recharging.  I charged it for about 4 hours.  After
>> reinstalling the battery I was surprised to see that the date and time
>> setting had been lost.
>>
>> My first thought was something was wrong with the small lithium backup
>> battery such as used in my Canon 5D.  A thorough search of the camera
>> and manual turned up no such device.  As it turns out the clock is
>> maintained only by a capacitor.  That requires that a well charged
>> battery has been in the camera for some unstated period of time to
>> deliver a charge sufficient to last "about one day".  Clock is now
>> working and doesn't get reset if you remove the battery.
>>
>> The menus are extensive and almost overwhelming but I am finally getting
>> a bit more comfortable with them.  I've done some basic setup such as
>> getting a grid displayed and enabling many things that were initially
>> off just so I can see the functions.  My biggest confusion point at the
>> moment is the "super control panel" and variants.  I couldn't even get
>> it to display for a long time since the instructions seem to start from
>> the default state of the viewfinder/monitor control switch as it comes
>> out of the box.  I had apparently pushed that control a few times and it
>> took much more reading of the manual before I really understood how it
>> was controlled.  And I'm still not 100% sure I completely understand it.
>>
>> The Canon 5D has a single button dedicated to ISO and drive mode.  After
>> pressing that one button you turn one control wheel to change ISO and
>> the other control wheel to change drive mode.    The E-M5 has two
>> buttons labeled Fn1 and Fn2 which are freely reprogrammable between
>> various functions.  I had already reprogrammed those to move the AF
>> button off the shutter button and add the missing DoF preview button.
>> But I was missing a button for ISO.  I didn't realize at first that the
>> video mode button can be reprogrammed in the same way.  If you want to
>> shoot video and have reprogrammed that button just switch the mode dial
>> to video/movies.  Anyhow the movie button is now something else.
>>
>> I've moved the buttons around and am not sure whether the assignments
>> will move around again.  I wanted the Fn1 button (thumb operated on
>> back) to be the focus button but it's partially blocked by the ridge of
>> the raised thumb rest and a bit difficult to press.  So right now the
>> Fn1 button is depth of field preview, Fn2 (next to the shutter button)
>> is the focus button and the movie button is the change ISO button.  The
>> X-Y arrow keys can also each be individually reprogrammed to some other
>> function but you'd have to give up the ability to move the focus point
>> while shooting.
>>
>> But I have a long, long way yet to go.  I haven't even begun to
>> understand manual focus, the touch modes of the screen (when enabled),
>> various live view stuff and much, much more.  I just stumbled across the
>> fact that it has bluetooth a few minutes ago.  I'm not surprised but I
>> hadn't known that until just now.
>>
>> I'd like to get a small waist belt bag for it but don't know what.  I'd
>> like to carry the camera, the two lenses (12-50 & 14-150),  maybe a
>> third lens, a flash (probably a T-32 but maybe the Canon 540-EZ) a spare
>> battery and some other miscellany.
>>
>> Carry bag, lighter weight tripod and usage suggestions will be greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Things that bug me a bit -
>> I'd like to shrink the giant screen in favor of another couple buttons.
>> Can't view flashies and histogram at the same time
>> Top of shooting histgram is truncated
>> Separate colors RGB histograms (plural) only available in review mode.
>> Olympus owner's manuals, eg; page 30, 31 show high data content
>> viewfinder and monitor displays that I have been totally unable to
>> reproduce on my own camera.
>>
>> Luke warm -
>> The 800x600 EVF display is not bad but even I (vs Eagle-eye Moose) can
>> see some pixellation.  It blows my Minolta A1 out of the water but it
>> will take another generation or two before it's really great.
>>
>> Things I love
>> Both highlight and shadow flashies
>> Live preview of exposure and compentation
>> Freely moveable focus point over most (but not all) of the screen
>> Full time vertical/horizontal leveling bars
>> Multiple grid displays
>> Body with 14-150 about like carrying an OM-1 with 135/3.5
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>
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